Discovering a fire below the deck, a yacht just off Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, broadcast a Mayday call requesting immediate assistance.
With HM Coastguard unable to contact the yacht on the radio again, Swanage Lifeboat volunteers were paged to go to its help. The incident happened around 2.30 pm on Sunday 26th September 2021.
“An electrical fire below decks”
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“The lifeboat launched and made its way to the scene at full speed. In the time it took for the lifeboat to launch, a UK Border Force vessel in the area responded to the Mayday and had launched its rib to assist too.
“Both boats arrived on scene at about the same time and two lifeboat crew members were put aboard the yacht to get a further update on their situation. It transpired that the yacht had suffered an electrical fire below decks.”
The yacht’s crew had managed to get the fire under control by isolating the boat’s batteries but it had left the boat without electricity.
Swanage Lifeboat Station launch ramp looking towards Old Harry Rocks
Yacht towed back to Poole Harbour
It was then decided that the RNLI all weather lifeboat should tow the yacht back into Poole Harbour.
Poole Lifeboat was already out on a shout but as it headed back from the earlier incident, the crew was able to rendezvous with the Swanage volunteers.
Poole Lifeboat took over the tow, returning the yacht to its mooring, allowing the Swanage crew to return to their lifeboat station.
